ECOWAS Marathon announces exclusive prize money for West African runners, targets World Athletics Gold Label status

The Financial Neighborhood of West African States (ECOWAS) Fee has unveiled an unique prize cash incentive for West African runners collaborating within the 2025 ECOWAS Abuja Worldwide Marathon.

The announcement was made on Thursday at a press convention by the ECOWAS Fee, the sponsor of the marathon.

In line with ECOWAS Director of Youth and Sports activities Francis Njoaguani, who additionally serves because the Chairman of the Predominant Organising Committee, the primary West African runner to cross the end line will obtain $1,000.

The second-place finisher will earn $500, whereas the third, fourth, and fifth-place runners will obtain $400, $250, and $200, respectively.

This initiative is aimed toward encouraging regional participation and celebrating homegrown expertise.

Mr Njoaguani emphasised ECOWAS’ long-term imaginative and prescient to raise the marathon to worldwide prominence.

He said that the aim is to attain the World Athletics Gold Label standing throughout the subsequent 4 years, positioning the ECOWAS Abuja Worldwide Marathon among the many most prestigious street races globally.

At present, the marathon stands as probably the most profitable half marathon in Africa, providing a formidable prize construction for each women and men.

Winners of the 21km race will every take residence $10,000, whereas second and third-place finishers will earn $5,000 and $4,000, respectively.

The fourth-place runner will obtain $3,500, adopted by $3,000 for the fifth, $2,500 for the sixth, $2,000 for the seventh, $1,500 for the eighth, $1,200 for the ninth, and $1,000 for the tenth-place finisher.

Within the 5km class, the first-place winner will obtain $1,000, the second-place finisher $300, the third-place $250, the fourth-place $150, and the fifth-place $100.

Mr Njoaguani expressed his delight on the marathon’s fast progress and rising reputation. He recalled the challenges confronted in its early years however famous that it has since advanced right into a extremely anticipated sporting occasion.

The 2025 version, which commemorates the fiftieth anniversary of ECOWAS, is anticipated to draw over 5000 runners from throughout the globe.

To mark this milestone, ECOWAS is totally sponsoring runners from all member states, each women and men, to take part.

Moreover, vital curiosity has been proven by runners from Ghana, Senegal, Guinea, and Côte d’Ivoire, in addition to from different areas past Africa, together with the US, Kenya, Ethiopia, and Switzerland.

For this version, some minor changes have been made to the race routes.

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The 21km race will start and finish on the ECOWAS Fee headquarters, guaranteeing a seamless and well-coordinated course for contributors.

In the meantime, the 5km race will begin Independence Drive by Sahad Shops and CDB and conclude on the ECOWAS Fee.

Past its aggressive side, the marathon serves as a unifying platform for West African nations.

Mr Njoaguani highlighted that the marathon is greater than only a race, emphasising that it’s a technique of fostering regional integration, bringing folks collectively to work together, rejoice health, and strengthen the bonds throughout the neighborhood.